Chairman's Report-74 

 

 

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Rice Research Board Chairman, Carroll W. High

 

 

Many of you attended the February 1975 Winter Rice Production Schools sponsored by the Area Rice Farm Advisors of the University of California. Those attending the schools received a booklet entitled, "Rice Production School -- A Current Summary of Varieties, Plant Nutrition and Crop Protection Practices -- Winter 1975." The publication was made available by the Rice Research Board, which financed the printing costs and encouraged the development of much of the information it contains through its support of cooperating research programs.

The publication contains an excellent report on all aspects of rice production research up to harvest. In it you will find the latest information and recommendation on varieties, weed control, insect and disease control, water management, etc. If you did not obtain a copy, you may do so by contacting your local Area Rice Farm Advisor or Extension Agronomist D. Marlin Brandon at the University of California, Davis, California 95816.

Since many 1974 research findings were presented in detail in the schools, to avoid duplication we modified the form of our 1974 Sixth Progress Report. In the following pages you will find a summary of: (1) 5 years of rice crop residue research, (2) information on how the USDA scientists are cooperating on our research projects, (3) reports on research designed to help us retain the privilege of using our essential chemicals for rice production, (4) new chemicals for weed control, (5) progress on variety development, and (6) progress in developing new rice products for the domestic market.

To farm today in California, one needs to bring to bear all of the skill, the science, the new technology available. Aside from having to meet the economic challenges associated with inflation, we must develop economical production methods associated with public pressure for an improved environment. Our Comprehensive Rice Research Program has proven over and over its value in providing needed answers.

It is unfortunate the highly experimental rice straw baler recently has been accorded so much inaccurate publicity. Despite a long-tens dedicated effort by your Rice Research Board and our cooperating research scientists and engineers, we rice growers know we are a long way from having the complete information needed to economically manage our rice crop residues with minimum essential use of fire as a tool of crop sanitation.

We rice growers must and can keep solving our own problems -- through individual efforts, the activities of the California Cooperative Rice Research Foundation, through research in the University of California, USDA, and industry, and through statewide continuing educational activities by Cooperative Extension. The full cooperation of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the California Air Resources Board, and the California Solid Waste Management Board has played a very important role in our progress. We are fortunate in having such wide ranging cooperation, and appreciate it.

On the last page you will find out how we budgeted and spent your rice research funds in 1974. If you wish further details, get in touch with your local Rice Research Board representatives, listed at the front of this report, or your Board Manager Mel Androus, P. O. Box 507, Yuba City, CA 95991, (phone: (916)-673-6247). For further information on the rice research projects, contact them or your local Rice Farm Advisor.

Sections marked with þ indicate those which we think are of special importance to you.

 

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